Writing about reproductive rights issues in Minnesota and beyond!
As the political arm of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, we mobilize supporters of all parties to defend and increase access to family planning services and fact based, medically accurate sexuality education
We work to inspire and engage citizens to take up the cause of reproductive health and rights through education, electoral activity, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy.

2012

19 November 2012

For the first time, the U.N. Population Fund’s
(UNFPA) annual
report, released November 14, explicitly declares family planning,
including access to contraception, a universal human right. In keeping with the UNFPA's mission to create “a world
where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young
person’s potential is fulfilled,” this report examines both the financial and
social repercussions of decreased access to contraception.

The report identifies 222 millionwomen in
developing countries as having an unmet need for voluntary family planning. According to the UNFPA, an investment of $4.1 billion in funding to allow
everyone in developing countries access to family planning would result in an annual $11.3 billion reduction
in costs for maternal and newborn health.
The UN also points out a correlation between accessible family planning,
increased productivity and the resulting improvements to a region’s economy.

Increased voluntary family planning access is not
just an issue of economics. Dr.
Osotimehin states, “Family planning is not a privilege, but a right. Yet, too many women – and men – are denied
this human right.” The UNFPA’s annual
report identifies a number health and social factors impacted by this unmet
need, including high rates of unintended
pregnancy and HIV, increased infant
mortality, decreased ability to
attain an education and gender
inequality. According to Dr.
Babatunde, Executive Director of the UNFPA, “Not only does the ability for a
couple to choose when and how many children to have help lift nations out of poverty,
but it is also one of the most effective means of empowering women.”

Planned Parenthood has always understood how
fundamental family planning is to the wellbeing of women. In Minnesota, Planned
Parenthood is proud to offer no-cost
birth control for qualifying women through the 4NOW
program. 4NOW also covers the cost
of annual exams, emergency contraception, STI screenings and more! Planned Parenthood accepts
most kinds of insurance, and our doors are open to everyone, regardless of
ability to pay.

15 November 2012

In 2010, teens across the country, ages 12 – 19, were asked: When it comes to your
decisions about sex, who is most influential?
The most common response? Parents.

Research proves the
protective significance of Parent-Child
Connectedness (also known as PCC) for growing children. PCC, a strong
emotional bond between parent and child, is known in the public health world as
a “super protector,” buffering adolescents from the many challenges and
risks they face. Strong PCC protects against 33 negative adolescent outcomes
such as unintended pregnancy; HIV and other sexually transmitted infections
(STIs); violence; depression; eating disorders; alcohol, tobacco and drug use;
and poor academic achievement.

Today
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota celebrates 20 years of
steadfast commitment to fostering PCC in local communities. Since 1992, Planned Parenthood has offered
more than 100 Parent-Child
retreats (totaling over 1,000 participants) across the state of Minnesota. At these one-day retreats, parents and
mentors discuss emerging sexuality with their children in a comfortable,
supportive environment. Tonight at Planned
Parenthood’s flagship
headquarters in St. Paul, past and present program participants,
volunteers, staff and supporters will join to recognize this incredible
achievement.

Planned Parenthood is dedicated to providing
accurate, age-appropriate, culturally relevant information to children and
teens, and offers a broad range of education
programs across Minnesota. To learn
more about the importance of supporting Parent-Child Connectedness in our
communities, check out Planned Parenthood’s complete report,
or download Planned Parenthood’s Let’s Talk tablemat!

All-day retreats for daughters, ages 10-12, and
their mothers or female mentors.
Participants learn and play together while exploring puberty, healthy
sexuality, and family communication and connection. Offered in English, Spanish and Hmong.

All-day retreats for sons, ages 10-12, and their
mothers or female mentors. Activities
are designed to support positive communications about puberty and sexuality
and to emphasize the value of building healthy relationships.

07 November 2012

President Obama’s reelection – and the
state-level successes in Minnesota – are a historic victory for women’s health,
according to the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
Action Fund (PPMNSAF).

“This is a resounding
victory for women – and by women. More than ever before, women’s health was a
decisive issue in this election. Minnesotans voted to ensure that women will
have access to affordable health care and be able to make their own medical
decisions,” said Sarah Stoesz, President of the PPMNSAF.

02 November 2012

We’re in the final days of the
election season. Join Planned Parenthood this weekend for a phone bank finale
in St. Paul. We’ll be calling to ensure people have vital voter information
like where to vote and what to bring. In addition, we’ll be asking folks to
stand with Planned Parenthood and vote “NO” on the two constitutional
amendments that are on the MN ballot.

According to a Star Tribune poll,
the marriage amendment is a virtual tie. The Photo-ID amendment is close as
well, with 6% of Minnesota voters undecided. These amendments would change the
Minnesota Constitution. In addition, the Photo-ID amendment would have a
devastating effect on future elections.

If you’d like to join us this
weekend please RSVP to ashcmitz@ppmns.org.
The phone banks will all be held at 671 Vandalia St. in St. Paul. There is a
parking ramp available.

Phone Bank Times Include:

-
Saturday 11/3 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. AND
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

-
Sunday 11/4 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. AND 1:00
p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

-
Monday 11/5 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

No prior phone-banking experience
is required. In fact, it is pretty easy. You will be helping lots of Minnesota
voters find essential voter information!

24 October 2012

All the discussion about voter
registration and voter ID laws can be confusing. The Minnesota deadline to
pre-register to vote was October 16.It’s not too late to register to vote. Minnesota allows voters to use same-day registration to
vote. According to the MN Secretary of State, over 500,000 people used same-day
registration in 2008. In fact, around 61% of voters in Minnesota have used
same-day registration at some point.

Minnesota allows voters to register
on Election Day at their polling place. Same-day registration isn’t just for
new voters.If you were previously registered to vote but have moved,
changed your name or have not voted for four consecutive years you will need to
use same day registration. Also, if you received a notice of late registration from
your county auditor or city clerk you will need to use same day registration.
Minnesota provides a helpful voter registration lookup to check your
registration.

In addition, if you live in a
nursing home, veterans home, group housing, homeless shelter, battered women’s
shelter, or transitional housing you can still register to vote! An employee of
the facility you live in can vouch for your residency through a written form.

Are you worried about getting to the
polls? For some facilities (like nursing homes) the law allows you to designate
someone to bring you a ballot. You will need to fill out a request form and the
links are provided below.

So what’s all this about voter ID?
The ballot for the 2012 election will include a proposed amendment to change
the Minnesota Constitution. Voters will decide whether to change the
constitution or to leave the constitution the way it currently is. Voting
registration and procedures will remain the same for the 2012 election.
However, if passed, these changes would severely impact future elections,
including ending same-day voter registration. It would change how you vote, who
can vote, and increase the financial cost of elections.

The Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund is the political arm of PPMNS. We mobilize supporters of all parties to defend and increase access to family planning services and fact based, medically accurate sexual education. Read more.